MLB Recent Player News

Chamberlain is back for a second season with Detroit after agreeing to a $1 million, one-year deal.

Analysis: The right-hander was a free agent this offseason, and although the Tigers ended up bringing him back, it doesn't look like his role will be quite the same, at least initially. Chamberlain went 2-5 with a 3.57 ERA last year, but he struggled down the stretch, posting a 4.97 ERA after the All-Star break and allowing four earned runs over two postseason appearances.

Analysis: Utley, entering his 13th year with the Phillies, sprained his ankle last month while taking infield work. He said Monday that the minor injury "put a wrinkle" in his offseason workout program, but it hasn't limited him from taking regular batting practice and fielding work in his first three days in camp. Utley, 36, says his ankle has improved dramatically but isn't as strong as he wants it to be.

Analysis: Manager Paul Molitor said Monday that Hughes has been "penciled in" to take the mound on April 6 when the Twins play at Detroit, provided the right-hander stays healthy through spring training. Hughes was 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA in 32 starts last year, setting a major league record with an 11.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He threw 73 percent of pitches for strikes, tops among pitchers who faced 500 or more batters.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a one-year contract with McGowan.

Analysis: McGowan, who turns 33 on March 24, was 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA in eight starts and 45 relief appearances for Toronto last season. It was his first season without time on the disabled list since 2007 following injuries to his right shoulder (July 2008 through mid-2011), right foot (2012) and right shoulder and right oblique (2013). He has a 25-27 career record with a 4.57 ERA in seven big league seasons, all with Toronto.

Beltre and the Texas Rangers have reworked the final two seasons of the third baseman's $96 million, six-year contract, eliminating the team's conditional right to void his 2016 salary.

Analysis: Beltre was due to be paid $18 million this year and $16 million in 2016, but the team had the right to void 2016 if the four-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner didn't have at least 586 plate appearances this season. Under the amendment announced Monday, Beltre is guaranteed $16 million this year and $18 million in 2016. The 35-year-old made $17 million last season, when he hit .324 with 19 homers and 77 RBIs.

Rodriguez has reported to the New York Yankees following a season-long suspension, arriving three days ahead of schedule.

Analysis: New York's position players start workouts Thursday. Suspended for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract, Rodriguez apologized to team officials during a meeting on Feb. 10 and to fans in a statement last week. The three-time AL MVP has not spoken publicly about his actions that led to the suspension.Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, has not played a full season since 2007 because the suspension, operations on both hips and other injuries.

The centerfielder known as B.J. Upton through his first 11 major league seasons with Tampa Bay and Atlanta is now listed as Melvin Upton Jr. on the Atlanta Braves' roster.

Analysis: Upton's old initials stood for Bossman Junior, from his father Manny's nickname "Bossman." Upton's full name is Melvin Emanuel Upton. The 30-year-old has struggled in two seasons since signing a $75.25 million, five-year contract with the Braves. He hit .184 in 2013 and .208 last year.

Votto is one of the Reds' main concerns heading into the first full-squad workout Tuesday. The first baseman played in only 62 games last season - none after July 5 - because of strained muscles above his left knee.

Analysis: The first baseman had hoped to return before the end of the season, but the injury was slow to heal.

Tanaka threw 40 pitches in his third bullpen session and could be ready to pitch batting practice for the first time early next week.

Analysis: Tanaka missed 2 1/2 months last season with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He returned for two starts in late September, and Boston chased him with an eight-run second inning in his final outing.

For Haren, the relocation from Southern California to South Florida will take some getting used to.

Analysis: The 34-year-old right-hander reported to his new team this week after contemplating retirement, but he made it clear Sunday he still feels the tug of faraway family. Back in Los Angeles are his wife and their children, ages 7 and 5, and such separation is a downside to spring training.

Wieters is hoping he'll be ready to catch on the nine-month anniversary of his surgery, March 17. That will give him enough time to be ready for the April 6 opener at Tampa Bay.

Analysis: Last year, the Orioles won the AL East despite getting just 26 games out of the three-time All-Star catcher. Manager Buck Showalter says that even though the time won without him, they're better with him.

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Dickerson to a minor league contract and invited him to major league spring training. The Blue Jays made the announcement Saturday.

Analysis: The 32-year-old Dickerson hit .224 with two home runs and six RBIs in 41 games for Cleveland last year. Dickerson is a career .257 hitter in 355 games over the past seven seasons while playing for the Indians, Baltimore, the New York Yankees, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Beachy, hoping he can recover from his second Tommy John surgery.

Analysis: The Dodgers announced Saturday that they had a one-year contract with the right-hander that includes a team option for 2016. The 28-year-old Beachy went 14-11 with a 3.23 ERA with Atlanta from 2010-13. He missed last season after having elbow surgery in March. Beachy was leading the majors in ERA through 13 starts in 2012 before needing his first Tommy John surgery in June.

After hitting an $11 million jackpot with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kang wants to pay it forward with other ballplayers in his native Korea.

Analysis: Kang signed a four-year contract with the Pirates, who in December paid a $5 million posting fee to the Nexen Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization. Kang, 27, is the first position player to jump from the KBO to Major League Baseball.

The Seattle Mariners have defeated Wilhelmsen in baseball's final salary arbitration decision this year.

Analysis: Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Willemsen was awarded the team's $1.4 million offer rather than his $2.2 million request. The 31-year-old right-hander was 3-2 with a 2.27 ERA last season in 57 relief appearances and made $528,800. He saved 53 games in 63 chances the previous two years but had command problems and lost the closer's job.

Baltimore has beaten outfielder Alejandro de Aza in salary arbitration.

Analysis: De Aza was awarded the Orioles' $5 million offer rather than his $5.65 million request. De Aza hit .252 with eight homers and 41 RBIs last year for the Chicago White Sox and Orioles, who obtained him on Aug. 30 for a pair of minor leaguers. He made $4.25 million.

The St. Louis Cardinals intend to limit Wainwright's workload during the spring and perhaps into the season, something their ace isn't completely confident should be a goal. Wainwright averaged 222 innings the past three seasons. He went 20-9 last year, then had surgery to remove torn cartilage from his right elbow after St. Louis was eliminated by the Giants in the NL Championship Series.

Analysis: Manager Mike Matheny said Friday the most noticeable change this spring may be the number of starts Wainwright gets. Matheny didn't specify a limitation for Wainwright, who made five spring starts last year. Wainwright said he could probably be ready for the opener with four starts, but wasn't as sure about his sharpness if he made just three starts. But, he added, "As long as we are talking about liming starts now and not in the regular season I'm fine with it."

Richards hopes to ready to pitch for the Los Angeles Angels by opening day, ahead of the schedule projected when hurt his left knee last summer.

Analysis: Richards tore the patellar tendon in his left knee on Aug. 20 and had surgery two days later. Richards threw his second bullpen session since the injury on Friday, when pitchers and catchers reported to camp, and said he is at about 75 percent. The right-hander was 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts when he got hurt, a turnaround from his 7-8 record the previous year.